Kigali

Why it's the capital

Kigali began in 1907 as a German administrative outpost set up by Richard Kandt. At independence in 1962, Nyanza, the old royal seat, and the southern city of Butare were also considered, but Kigali was chosen because it was more central.

Fun facts

1. The name comes from the Kinyarwanda word part -gali, meaning 'wide' or 'broad'. It was first used for Mount Kigali, which rises to about 1,850 m.
2. Richard Kandt's house was the first European-style house in the city and is now the Kandt House Museum of Natural History.
3. The Nyabarongo River, part of the upper headwaters of the Nile, forms the western and southern edges of the city.